The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-11-03
VOL. w..
1t Is Coming.
From the Mnltgan Mentor.


friends for the settled determined
idea of National Prohibition
There is large class of men in the
United States in whose judgment
the abolition of strong drink as a
beverage, especially of the whole
saloon license system, is of first in.
terest for the welfare of the Nation.
1t is of highest interest for both
the prosperity and perpetuity of
our country's life. 1t is of more
importance to legislate, plan and
spend money to save the intelli-
gence, morals and character of the
laboring people, together with $780,
100000 of their earnings, than It is
to legislate, plan and spend money
to make them and all Of the Nation
simply one-half or one third of that
y
sum of money, to say nothing of
the loss of intelligence and drunk
ard, who is spending and spreeing
away fifty dollars a day and de.
stroying his life, had far better be
planning to save half OF more OF
this than to continue his debauch.
cry and be trying to make ten dol
lars day more. What our law
makers do to educate the people
and all advantages they give to the
moral forces of the Nation are
direct helps to man. They are di.
rect blessings to him. They in
crease his worth Immediately. Mans
advancement in the Divine nature
is the Object of life. Hence, such
legislation, such spending of money,
is directly in the line of mans
eternal good. On the other hand,
legislation, planning and work to
make more money, to advance
material Improvement in the country
is only indirectly helpful. 1t only
makes the ways of mans improve
ment smoother.
A true and whole education is a
direct blessing. A fortune may be
the means of bringing blessing,
but is not itself one Yet most OF
the time of our Legislators is spent
in scheming how to improve the
material affairs of the State, Only
a small part is given the develop
ment of Educational works, or to
measures especially helpful and en-
couraging to the moral forces OF
the people. For instance, how
much study and time have the law.
makers given to the question : How
shall we free the country from the
rum traffic and its curses
How many of them have sci
their heads together and studied
how to stop Sunday trade or trains
with business and pleasure travel
Yet if both continue to increase
they will bring this country to ruin
certain. A country with plenty oi
rum shops and no Sunday, is close
to death.
How much have the Legislators
studied to keep the ballot box pure
and give every man who is enti
tied to vote, an honest chance tc
vote once at given election, anc
but once1 The large class of mer
spoken Of believe in more legisla
ton on such questions as prohibi
ton, education, Sunday business
and public travel, the purity of thu
ballot box and the protection o
society against the greed of rail
road, telegraph and land monopo
lies. The men who expect to agi
tate the question of prohibition
until Prohibitory Amendment il
in the Constitution of the Unitet
States, are almost as united for
work Of general education ant
laws preventing the destruction 0
society by Sunday traffic and mo
nopolies or gambling on the neces
saries of life, and they are set 70
honest yoting-the purity of tn
ballot box.
The old party bands are getting
weaker, and men are daring t.
vote as they think for themselves
and as they pray to their Ruler
They expect to keep the question
of Prohibition and those of lik
educational and moral nature agi
tated--expect to keep them to tn
front.
Party hack-horse men can sa
what they may, but the preacher
and teachers and men of the deepes
religious convictions will keep thes
questions before the people, an
mans breast is made to love tn
truth. These agitators have tn
truth, and ere long the people wi
receive it. These, the polite;
forces of the Nation, will be reol
ganized and run on a higher plan
for a time, and then become co,
rupt, and await future forces
destroy them again.
That is the way the earth itse
was made that is the way huma
society will advance to its be